Foreword by Goodarz Ahmadi and Takashi
Hibiki
Since the Three Mile Island accident in 1979 and the Chernobyl accident in 1986,
designing an inherently safe nuclear reactor has attracted worldwide attention. In
this context, “the generation IV advanced nuclear power system”, was proposed. In
an effort to optimize the High-Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor (HTGR), considered as a safe and efficient reactor, Institute of Nuclear and New Energy
Technology (INET) at Tsinghua University has developed a demonstration reactor
and conducted extensive research in the past decades. This book provides a comprehensive collection of the research methods and achievements of the authors’
team on HTGR over the years.
This book starts with an introduction to HTGR and the critical issues such as
pebble flows, gas-phase hydrodynamics, and inter-phase heat transfer
(thermal-hydraulics) inside the reactor core. It provides a detailed understating
of the granular flow, which is quite interesting and meaningful. Granular flow is
common, but its dynamics is quite complicated, especially for the quasi-static flow
regime inside the HTGR core. To provide a deep understanding of the flow
mechanisms, the authors have carried out both experimental, phenomenological
analysis, and numerical studies using the discrete element method and the continuum approach. Flow characteristics such as velocity, mixing, intermittency, as well
as the subdivision of flow regimes are explained thoroughly in this book.
The inherent safety of HTGR at high power requires a thorough knowledge
of the two-phase heat-transfer processes. In this regard, a full-radius-scale
heat-transfer testing facility has been built, and an overview of the experimental
process for measuring the thermal properties of a pebble bed under different conditions is presented. The authors have also developed several numerical models,
including thermal radiation and conduction, which have been shown to be appropriate for the heat-transfer study of the pebble bed. Each model and its application
are explained in detail. These innovative research works are of great significance to
ensure the balance between safety and economic competitiveness.
v
Hibiki
Since the Three Mile Island accident in 1979 and the Chernobyl accident in 1986,
designing an inherently safe nuclear reactor has attracted worldwide attention. In
this context, “the generation IV advanced nuclear power system”, was proposed. In
an effort to optimize the High-Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor (HTGR), considered as a safe and efficient reactor, Institute of Nuclear and New Energy
Technology (INET) at Tsinghua University has developed a demonstration reactor
and conducted extensive research in the past decades. This book provides a comprehensive collection of the research methods and achievements of the authors’
team on HTGR over the years.
This book starts with an introduction to HTGR and the critical issues such as
pebble flows, gas-phase hydrodynamics, and inter-phase heat transfer
(thermal-hydraulics) inside the reactor core. It provides a detailed understating
of the granular flow, which is quite interesting and meaningful. Granular flow is
common, but its dynamics is quite complicated, especially for the quasi-static flow
regime inside the HTGR core. To provide a deep understanding of the flow
mechanisms, the authors have carried out both experimental, phenomenological
analysis, and numerical studies using the discrete element method and the continuum approach. Flow characteristics such as velocity, mixing, intermittency, as well
as the subdivision of flow regimes are explained thoroughly in this book.
The inherent safety of HTGR at high power requires a thorough knowledge
of the two-phase heat-transfer processes. In this regard, a full-radius-scale
heat-transfer testing facility has been built, and an overview of the experimental
process for measuring the thermal properties of a pebble bed under different conditions is presented. The authors have also developed several numerical models,
including thermal radiation and conduction, which have been shown to be appropriate for the heat-transfer study of the pebble bed. Each model and its application
are explained in detail. These innovative research works are of great significance to
ensure the balance between safety and economic competitiveness.
v